Weather
X THE
We're having fine (bad) weather. If the weather changes…
The weather is fine.
Wind, life:
X There isn't much wind today
Life is worth living.
THE The wind is rising
He ran like the wind.
The life he is leading now is destructive.
A (N + descriptive attribute)
A cold wind was blowing from the north.
They began a new life.
3) Due to the syntactic function of the n.
(1) Nouns in attributive (of-phrases) and adverbial (with, in) prepositional phrases of manner.
His flush of anger died.
An odd feeling of curiosity made him look through the keyhole.
He turned round in annoyance.
… he asked with intense interest.
! Even countable nouns in attributive/adverbial prepositional phrases are used with X
I
t's
a question of principle … a plain statement of fact.
He refused to help us without apparent reason.
He spoke with effort.
(2) Abstract nouns as predicatives.
When they were together, it was pure happiness.
I suspect that this was not just ordinary anxiety.
Memorize! Usually prepositional phrases as a predicative are set phrases:
-
t
o
be in despairto be in service
to be in power
to be of the opinion
to be of importance
to be out of control
to be in/out of danger
to be in a rage
to be in a good/bad humour
to be at a loss
to be in a hurry
THE
(restricting function; denotes a particular instance of the notion)
when abstract nouns are modified by a limiting attribute:
He was in a state of the greatest excitement.
They were surprised at the curious silence into which he had fallen.
He jumped at the abruptness of the question.
the limitation is clear from the context:
It was very still in the house. Suddenly a faint sound could be heard in the stillness.
For a long time they walked without saying a word. Jim was the first to break the silence.
with substantivized adjectives denoting abstract notions:
-
The ordinary
the average
the beautiful
the unusual
the supernatural
The extravagant
the unknown
the regrettable
the normal
the grotesque
the unbearable
“Do you believe in the supernatural?” he asked.
3) RARE! In attributive/adverbial prepositional phrases due to limiting attributes modifying the noun:
“May I speak to you in the strictest confidence?”
“No”, said Eric after the slightest hesitation.
He watched her go from group to group with the same ease.
A
(Aspective function)
1. When uncountable abstract nouns are modified by a descriptive attribute which brings out a special aspect of the notion (typical of literary style!):
A dull anger rose in his chest.
There seemed to be a wonderful excitement everywhere in the world.
There was a tenderness in her voice that moved him.
She recognized a pleasant irony in his voice.
His face had a calmness that was new to her.
Sometimes the aspective indefinite article is used even when the noun has no attribute:
After a time a loneliness fell upon the two men (= a certain loneliness).
There was a bitterness in her voice (= a particular bitterness).
2. Some uncountable nouns in certain constructions:
Comfort, disappointment, pleasure, shame, disgrace, pity, relief
when they are used as predicatives after the formal “It”:
It was a pleasure to see you.
It was a relief to know she was safely at home.
after the exclamatory “What”:
What a disappointment!
BUT! I’ll do it with pleasure. (adverbial prepositional phrase)
She gave a sigh of relief. (attributive prep-l phrase)
He knew what disappointment was.
She felt pity for the poor child. (predicatively)
3. In prepositional phrases in which the noun is modified by adjectives certain, peculiar or by attributive clauses.
The girl interrupted me with a certain impatience in her voice.
She spoke to strangers with a peculiar intimacy.
He gripped his hand with an abruptness that revealed his emotion.
He entertained with an originality that pleased.
*************
4. VERY RARELY AND OPTIONAL in some syntactic patterns:
In attributive/adverbial prepositional phrases which depends on the speaker’s desire to lay particular stress on the special aspect expressed by the attribute:
We looked at her face and saw the distorting lines of a deep and anxious weariness.
He smiled at me with a grave sympathy.
He walked in a solemn silence.